Mom Jeans, Lazy Susans & Zen Haircuts - Crowbar Sydney 1st March
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY: JADE GUIDA
I will admit this wasn’t the first time I have seen western Sydney's Zen Haircuts in action, so I am already very much a fan of what the Zennies have to offer.
This band's sound is almost impossible to pin down, they deliver a unique blend of new-wave emo combined with a spattering of both indie and punk rock. While they undeniably sit outside any of those genres, they have created a sound with a charismatic punch which is almost immediately identifiably their own.
The band delivered a performance with unquestionable electricity, the trio appear to have this almost symbiotic flow during their live performance.
It is hard to not immediately love a band who has an Instagram bio that reads “we’re gay AF [and] sing sad songs”. There is an ominous vulnerability to this band, you know from the way they float around the stage that they are going to suck you in to a dream state like the Pensieve in Harry Potter.
The band seemed right at home under the hazy pink lights of crowbar Sydney, as they easily settle in to their set. Tackling some heavy themes through their music they engage a large portion of the crowd who are captivated, hanging off every lyric and clapping along to every song.
The set from these Melbourne indie rockers leaves you pining for more of the dazed euphoria they create throughout their set.
A small disclaimer, I am a pretty big fan of Mom Jeans so this may edge towards being a little bias. This band is like a Rubik’s cube you just can’t solve. At their core this band sings sad songs. But not the sort of sad you cry to in the dark, the kind of sad songs you want fall in love to.
This band is tight.
I mean almost faultless in their delivery of their songs to a live audience. The natural eb and flow of the set and energy is seamless, the songs flow easily in to the next with some fun banter between members as they tune between songs. The whole band radiates this energy that makes a room full of strangers feel like a family. The band starts with classic "death cup", on paper its a downer of a song but my god does this rally the mom jeans family into a frenzy.
The whole audience is stomping and screaming as Bass player Sam Kless pulls faces and eggs on the elated front row. Even this simple act adds a layer of unexpected welcome to their show.
This band has an unrivalled ability to cut through seemingly sad lyrics, with high energy punk jumps and hardcore kicks that changes the dynamic from what would be a somber affair ,to an experience that leaves you screaming “I don't mind that you lie sometimes, Because I lie too, guess I'm just like you” to a total stranger like they know exactly how you take your morning coffee.
